Editorial | Guys, gals & guns

Leslie Combs

As Wayne LaPierre, the public face of the National Rifle Association, likes to say, "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."

Make that a good gal in the case of Rep. Leslie Combs, the Pikeville Democrat who generated a stir Wednesday when she accidentally discharged a handgun in her legislative office while attempting to unload it - for safety reasons.

Yes, ladies, we have come a long way from 1980 when Nancy Reagan coyly acknowledged that before becoming First Lady she kept a "tiny little gun" in her nightstand for protection when "Ronnie" was away.

In Kentucky, all lawmakers with permits may carry concealed weapons anywhere at the Capitol. As more women enter politics, it's only fair they should join male colleagues in packing heat.

Citizens with permits are free to carry concealed weapons anywhere except into House and Senate chambers and committee meetings. And any citizen openly wearing a gun can walk in Capitol and wander around at will thanks to the refusal of lawmakers to restrict in any way whatsoever the right of citizens to openly carry firearms on the premises.

In fact, lawmakers have consistently rejected efforts to limit firearms at the statehouse although it is very well protected by Capitol and state police.

So given the expansive attitude toward firearms by most legislators, don't expect any changes - even if a gun goes off by accident now and then.

But maybe there's a way to protect gun-toting lawmakers from themselves and each other.

After the Boptrot-era corruption scandals, legislators made ethics classes mandatory. After the more recent debacle of a lawmaker resigning amid allegations he groped and propositioned female staff, the legislature added sexual harassment training.

Why not add firearms training? Lawmakers could show up on the first day with their favorite weapons - which many probably do already - and take some refresher courses on gun safety.

They could invite citizens who choose to carry at the Capitol to join them.

If lawmakers are determined to have the place awash in guns, they might as well practice how to use them safely.

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Editorial | Guys, gals & guns

As Wayne LaPierre, the public face of the National Rifle Association, likes to say, 'The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.'